Wheel and axle assembly



Fb. 23, g?. A. M OELKERS ET AL 2,971,947

WHEEL AND- AXLE ASSEMBLY Original Filed March 6, '1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb 23 393i A. H. oELKERs ET AL,

WHEEL AND AXLE ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 6, 1935 Fb. 239 i937. AQ H. oELKERs ET AL WHEEL AND AXLE ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oyiginal Filed March 6,- 1933 IIIIIIIII Il Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES j 2,071,947 WHEEL AND AXLE ASSEMBLY Alfred H.

Oelkers and Fred E. Bachman, Chicago,

Ill., vassignors to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Continuation of application Serial No. 659,658, March 6, 1933. This application June 10, 1936,

Serial No. 84,422

-29 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in wheel and axle assemblies for railway car trucks and particularly to the provision of roller bearing assemblies through which the journal box is supported on the car axle, this application being a continuation of application Serial No. 659,658, led March 6th, 1933, by Alfred H. Oelkers and Fred E. Bachman.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a roller bearing assembly for railway axles which permits the journal box to oscillate in relation to the axle, permits the axle to slide in and out of the journal box as lateral movement requires, and facilitates the removal of the comv plete roller bearing from the assembly without removal of the journal box or the car axle from the car truck.

It is further an object of the present disclosure to provide a construction in which the axle may be removed from the journal box and bearing 1 without dismantling or opening any part of the journal box or bearing.

A still further object of the invention resides in the arrangement whereby the roller bearing unit is tightly iitted on an anti-friction bearing sleevecarried by the axle, journal means being provided for normally causing the sleeve to rotate with the axle but the construction further providing for relative rotation between the axle and the sleeve in case of failure of the roller bearing.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation taken through a wheel and axle assembly;

Figure 2 is an end elevation, the left-hand half of the journal box cover being cut away;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation similar to Figure l but showing a modified construction; 1

Figure 4 is an end elevation of Figure 3, the left half of the journal box cover being cut away;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional elevation taken through a journal box and roller bearing assembly and Showing a modified design;

Figure 6 is a detail section similar to Figure 5 but showing a further modification; and

Figures 'l and 8 are detail sections of further modifications of the roller bearing assembly.

Referring iirst to Figures l and 2, the car axle has a car Wheel 22 flxedly mounted thereon.

The axle has a shoulder 24 and a shoulder 26.

Mounted on the axle and abutting the shoulder- 24 is a deector ring 28. The axle has a bearing portion 30 fitting within a journal boxI 32. 'I'he rear wall 35 of the journal box has an inwardly directed annular portion 36 closely adjacent the surface of the rotatable axle 20. 'I'he wall 34 also has an outwardly directed portion 38 overlapping the deilector ring A28. These portions provide a lubricant seal.

The iront of the journal box is closed by a cover member lil fastened by bolts 42 to the body of the journal box. The journal box has a shoulder 44 for positioning the roller bearing cup 48 which may be assembled from the open end of the journal box. The journal box rests upon cup 616 through a bearing `surface 4l. The cup 56 is held in place against the abutment M by a segmental key Q8 tting in a groove in the journal box and secured by bolts 50.

A cylindrical sleeve 52 is mounted with a sliding nt on the journal bearing portion 30 of the axle, and is preferably of bronze. The sleeve 52 has a projection 54 overlapping the end of the axle, as shown in Figure 2, and adapted to be engaged by a pin 55 carried by the axle. The sleeve 52 may therefore rotate for nearly a complete revolution on the journal end of the axle but continuous relative rotation of the axle with respect to the sleeve is normally prevented. The axle may also move in and out with respect to the sleeve. The sleeve 52 constitutes a mounting for the roller bearing cone 58 which is tightly tted on the sleeve` 52. A lubricant deiiector ring 60 is provided mounted on the outwardly anged end 62 of the sleeve 52. The lateral thrust of the axle is taken up in only one direction by the shoulder come into engagement sleeve 52.

The roller bearing assembly is ofthe selfaligning type. The bearing cone 58 has a spherical roller raceway 64, while the bearing cup 46 has a pair of spaced roller raceways 66. Two courses of rollers 68 are provided, the rollers having concave surfaces for running on the roller raceways. Separate roller cages i0 are provided, each of the roller cages having projections 12 at their inner ends running in close proximity to the spherical raceway 64 of cone 58.

When it is desired to remove the roller bearing assembly from the journal box without taking the wheels out of the truck, the cover plate 40 is removed, the segmental key 48 is removed, after which the complete roller bearing assembly with the ilange 62 of the 26 when the axle tends to the journal end of the axle. It Will be further` understood that upon failure of the roller bearing, the sleeve 52 will remain stationary, thus shearing the pin 56 and the sleeve 52 will constitute an emergency bearing until the roller bearing unit may be replaced.

The construction disclosed in Figures 3 and 4 is similar to that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, except that the sleeve 16, which corresponds to the sleeve 52 of Figure 1, is normally locked to the axle vjournal 30 by a shearable key 18. The end of the axle has a reduced threaded portion 80 to receive a nut 82 formed with a sleeve portion 84 extending over the end of the sleeve 16. The key 18 fits into a slot in Y the axle and is loosely received by a notch 86 in the sleeve and is held in position by the extended sleeve 84 of the nut. The nut is locked on the axle by the cotter pin 88. A certain amount of clearance 90 is provided between the end of the sleeve16 `and the inner face of the nut 82 and there is also clearance between the flanged inner end 82 of the sleeve '|6 and the shoulder 26 of the axle 20. The axle may therefore slip inwardly and outwardly to the extent of the clearance and the axial thrust is therefore taken up in either direction.

In this construction, upon removal of the cover plate from the journal box, the segmental key 48 and the nut 82 may be removed, thereby permitting removal of the roller bearing assembly together with the bronze sleeve 16. Upon failure of the roller bearing unit, the sleeve '|6 remains stationary thereby shearing the key 18 and providing an emergency bearing.

The construction disclosed in Figure 5 is similar to that of Figure l except that three courses of rollers are provided instead of two. The central course 84 of rollers carries the radial load, the outer course 96 of the rollers takes the lateral thrust in an outward direction and the inner course 98 of the rollers takes the lateral -thrust in an inward direction. The rollers run on a spherical surface of the cone |00 and complementary surfaces of the cup |02. A separate cage is provided for each course of rollers. Thus, a central cage |04 positions the central course 94 of the rollers and is provided with projections |06 running in close proximity to the spherical surface of cone |00. Similarly, cages |08 and ||0 arel provided for the outer and inner roller courses, the outer edges of these cages extending into close proximity with the outer edges ofthe bearing cup as at ||2 and ||4. The central cage |04 is further guided to run concentrically with the bearing by having a stepped contact at ||6 and ||8 with the end cages |06 and ||0.

Theconstruction of Figure 6 is similar to that of Figure 3 except for the modification of the roller bearing unit. Three courses of rollers are provided, the central course |20 of rollers being barrel-shaped and carrying the radial load, the inner and outer courses |22 being barrel-shaped and tapered. The rollers run on a spherical concave surface of the bearing cup |24 and upon complementary surfaces of the bearing cone |26. The cone |26 is provided with guiding flanges 28 between the roller courses at the outer ends of the outer and guiding flanges |30 at its edges. The roller cage |32 for the central course of rollers runs in close proximity to the outer surfaces of the anges |28, and the cages |34 for the other roller courses run in close proximity to the surfaces of anges |28 and |30.

Figure '7 discloses an alternate design of selfaligning bearing having three courses of rollers, a central course |38 and outer courses |40. The rollers abut each other at their ends as at |42 so that guiding ianges |44 are required only courses of rollers. A single cage |46 is provided.

Figure 8 shows another form of roller bearing employing two courses of rollers |50. The middle portion |52 of each roller is of conical shape running on conical surfaces of the bearing cone |54, while the end portions |56 of each.roller are of spherical shape running on a spherical surface of the bearing cup |58. The rollers abut each other at their inner ends and are guided at their outer ends by flanges |60 of the bearing cone.

It is Jto be understood that we do` not wish to be limited to the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim:

l. In a wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable wheeled axle, a journal box, said axle having a bearing portion extending into said journal box, a self-aligning roller bearing assembly mounted on said axle bearing, means operable after substantially 360 displacement between said axle and roller bearing in either of two directions for causing said roller bearing to operate upon rota.- tion of said axle, means preventing axial displacement of said roller bearing assembly with respect to said journal box and means permitting limited lateral movement between said axle and said roller bearing assembly, said last-named means including cooperating thrust shoulders between the axle and the inner end of said bearing assemb wheeled axle, a journal box, said axle having a bearing portion extending into said journal box, an anti-friction bearing sleeve freely slidable upon said axle bearing from the outer end thereof, a roller bearing assembly providing selfalignment between the race-rings thereof yand tightly fitting on said sleeve, means holding said assembly in said journal box against lateral displacement, means for taking up axial thrust between said axle and said direction, and means permitting substantially 360 displacement between said sleeve and axle and normally causing said sleeve to rotate with said axle, said means being shearable to permitrelative rotation upon failure of said roller bearing assembly.

3. In a wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable wheeled axle, a journal box, said axle having a bearing portion extending into said journal box, an anti-friction bearing sleeve mounted on said axle bearing, a self-aligning roller bearing assembly tightly mounted on said bearing sleeve, and means permitting substantially 360 displacement between said sleeve and axle and causing said sleeve to rotate with said axle, means'holding said roller bearing assembly against lateral dissleeve in at least one placement with respect'to said journal box and means permitting limited lateral displacement between said axle and said sleeve in either direction.

4. In a wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable wheeled axle, a journal box, said axle having a bearing portion extending into said journal box, a sleeve mounted on said axle bearing, said axle having a shoulder to limit relative displacement of said axle with respect to said sleeve in one direction, a roller bearing assembly mounted on said sleeve, means preventing lateral displacement between said roller bearing assembly and said journal box and means secured to the end of said axle adapted to engage said roller bearing assembly to limit lateral movement of said axle with respect to said journal box in the opposite direction.

5. In avwheel and axle assembly, a rotatable wheeled axle, a journal box, said axle having a bearing portion extending into said journal box, a bearing sleeve mounted on said axle bearing Within said journal box, a shoulder on said axle, a nut fastened to the end of said axle whereby said sleeve is freely movable between said shoulder and said nut, a roller bearing assembly mounted on said sleeve and means for preventing lateral displacement between said roller bearing assembly and said journal box.

6. In a wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable wheeled axle, a journal box adapted to receive an end of said axle, a self-aligning roller-bearing assembly through which said journal box is supported upon said axle, means for holding said roller bearing assembly against lateral movement with respect to said journal box, means adjacent each end of said axle permitting limited lateral movement of said roller bearing assembly with respect to saidaxle in either direction, said roller bearing assembly including three roller courses, the central course of rollers being adapted to take the radial load and the end roller coursesbeing adapted to take the lateral thrust in either direction, and shearable means normally holding said v assembly in iixed relation with said axle and operable to permit relative movement/therebetween upon failure of said assembly. l

'7. In a roller bearing having'a plurality oi roller courses, separate roller cages for each course and relatively stepped connections between said cages.

8. In a roller bearing courses, separate roller cages for each course, the outer roller cages having means for holding the central roller cage concentric.

9. In a roller bearing having three roller courses, separate roller cages for each course, the outer roller cages having stepped portions for holding the central roller cage concentric.

l0. In a wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable wheeled axle, a journal box, said axle having a bearing portion extending into said journal box, a sleeve freely slidable under said axle bearing in the outer end thereof, said axle and the inner end of said sleeve having cooperating thrust shoulders, a roller bearing assembly mounted on said sleeve and through which said journal box` is supported on said'axle, means removably attached to saidv journal box for holding said roller bearing assembly against lateral displacement, said axle having a reduced threaded outer end,

a nut secured to the reduced outer end of said' axle, said nut having an annular shoulder overlapping the outer end of said sleeve and serving to engage the outer end of said roller bearing having three roller y assembly to limit lateral displacement between said axle and said roller bearing assembly.

11. In a wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable wheeled axle, a journal box, said axle having a bearing portion extending into said journal box, a sleeve freely slidable under said axle bearing in the outer end thereof, said axle and the inner end of said sleeve having cooperating thrust shoulders, a roller bearing assembly mounted on said sleeve and through which said journal box is supported on said axle, means removably attached to said journal box for holding said roller bearing assembly against lateral displacement,

said axle having a reduced threaded outer end, a nut secured to the reduced outer end of said axle, said nut having an annular shoulder overlapping the outer end of said sleeve and serving to engage the outer end of said roller bearing assembly to limit lateral displacement between said axle and said roller bearing assembly, and a shearable key normally locking said sleeve for rotation with said axle, said key being retained in position by said nut.

l2. In a wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable wheeled axle having a journal end, a journal box into which said journal end extends, a roller bearing assembly comprising race-rings and rollers mounted on said journal end within said journal box, said roller bearing assembly providing for self-alignment between said racerings and being designed to transmit a radial load from said journal box to the journal end of said axle and to transmit an axial thrust in at least one direction from said axle to said journal box, means holding said against axial displacement with respect to said journal box and means permitting limited axial displacement of said axle with respect to said roller bearing assembly including cooperating thrust shoulders between said axle and the inner end of said bearing assembly, and shearable means normally holding 'said assembly in fixed relation with said axle and operable to permit relative movement therebetween upon failure of said assembly. Y

13: In a Wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable Wheeled axle having a journal end, a journal box into which said journal end extends, a roller bearing assembly mounted on said journal and adapted to receive a radial load from said journal box, means holding said roller bearing assembly against axial displacement with respect to said journal box, said roller bearing assembly comprising race-rings having convex bearing surfaces and concaverollers cooperating with said and roller bearing assembly without opening said journal box, and shearable means normally holding said assembly in fixed relation with said axle and operable to permit relative movement therebetween upon failure of said assembly.

14. In a wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable wheeled axle having a journal end, a journal box into which the journal end extends, a sleeve slidably fitted on the journal end of said axle, a keyed connection between said axle and sleeve normally causing the sleeve to rotate with said Vaxle under normal operating conditions, a roller roller bearing assembly bearing assembly mounted on said sleeve and adapted to transmit a radial load from said journal box to said axle, said keyed connection being shearable to permit relative rotation therebetween upon failure of said assembly, means holding said roller bearing assembly against axial displacement with respect to said journal box, said roller bearing assembly comprising race-rings and rollers, at least one of said racerings having `a spherical bearing surface providing for self-alignment between said racerings, said axle having a shoulder for transmitting an inwardly directed axial thrust from said axle through said roller bearing to said journal box, said axle being freely displaceable outwardly for removal from said journal box without opening said journal box.

15. A self-aligning roller bearing adapted to transmit radial and thrust loads in either direction, comprising inner and outer race-rings, a central course of rollers for transmitting radial loads, a pair of end courses of rollers for transmitting thrust loads, a separate cage for each course of rollers, the cage for the central course of rollers having tongues extending into close proximity to the bearing surface of the inner race-ring for maintaining said cage concentric therewith and the cages for the end courses of rollers having end portions running in close proximity to the bearing surface of said outer race-ring for maintaining said cages concentric therewith.

16. A self-aligning roller bearing adapted to transmit radial and thrust loads in either direction, comprising inner and outer race-rings, a

central course of rollers for transmitting radial loads, a pair of end courses of rollers for transmitting thrust loads, a separate cage for each course of rollers, the cage for the central course of rollers having tongues extending into close proximity to the bearing surface of the inner race-ring for maintaining said cage concentric therewith and the cages for the end courses of rollers having end portions running in close proximity to the bearing surface of said outer racering for maintaining said cages concentric therewith, the inner ends of said last-mentioned cages having a stepped support upon the central cage.

17. A self-aligning roller bearing comprising a rotatable bearing cone having a spherical roller raceway, a stationary bearing cup having a pair of adjacent convex roller raceways,apairof roller courses, each roller being symmetrical end to end and having a concave bearing surface comple- I mentary to said raceways and separate cages for each roller course having tongues at the inner end thereof guided by said spherical raceway to run concentric with said bearing cone.

.18. In a wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable axle having a4 journal end, a journal box into which said journal end extends, a roller bearing assembly comprising inner and outer race-rings and rollers xed to a sleeve, said sleeve mounted for sliding 'movement on saidjournal end, means holding said roller bearing assemblyv against axialdisplacement with respect to said journal box, means on said axle cooperating with said sleeve to permit limited axial displacement of said axle with respect to said roller bearing assembly, and means cooperating with said sleeve but permitting substantially 360 displacement with respect to said axle and normally limiting the same to sliding movement with said axle and being shearable upon failure of said assembly whereby said sleeve serves vas a friction bearing to permit rotation and sliding movement of said axle in respect thereto.

19. In a wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable axle having a journal end, a journal box into which said journal end extends, a roller bearing assembly comprising inner and outer race-rings and rollersv xed to a sleeve, said sleeve being mounted for sliding movement on said journal end, means holding said roller bearing `assembly against vaxial displacement with respect to said journal box, means on said axle cooperating with said sleeve `to permit limited axial displacement of said axle with respect to said roller bearing assembly, said sleeve having a part extending over the end of said axle axially and radially, and a pin projecting from said axle and normally engaging said radially disposed part normally limiting said sleeve to sliding movement with said axle but permitting substantially 360o displacement with respect to said axle, said pin being shearable upon failure of said assembly whereby said sleeve serves as a friction bearing to permit rotation and sliding movement of said axle with respect thereto.

20. In a wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable axle having a journal end, a journal box into which said journal end extends, a roller bearing assembly comprising inner and outer race-rings and rollers fixed to a sleeve, said sleeve being mounted for sliding movement on said journal end, means holding said roller bearing assembly against axial displacement with respect to said journal box, means on said axle cooperating with said sleeve to permit limited axial displacement of said axle with respect to said roller bearing assembly, a nut screw-threaded on the end of said axle, a key cooperating with said axle and sleeve normally limiting said sleeve to sliding movement with said axle, said key being shearable upon failure of said assembly whereby said sleeve serves as a friction bearing to permit rotation and sliding movement of said axle with respect thereto, said nut` having an extending portion overhanging said sleeve and key for normally maintaining said key in association withv said axle and sleeve.

21. In a roller bearing assembly, the combination of inner and outer race-rings, ay central course of rollers for transmitting radial loads, a pair of end courses of rollers disposed at an angle to said central course of rollers and for transmitting thrust loads, the rollers of said central course having plane end surfaces engaged by surfaces disposed at an angle thereto on the ends of the rollers of the end courses, guide anges on one of said race-rings for guiding the rollers of said end courses, and a single cage for said rollers.

22; In a roller bearing assembly, the combination of inner and outer race-rings, a central course of rollers for transmitting radial loads, a pair of end courses of rollers disposed at an angle to said central course of rollers and for transmitting thrust loads, the rollers of said central course having plane end surfaces engaged by surfaces disposed at an angle -thereto on the ends of the rollers of the end courses, guide flanges on said inner race-ring for guiding the rollers of said end courses, and al single cage for said rollers.

23. In a roller bearing assembly.' the combination of inner and outer race-rings, a-plurality ofl said race-rings, said f outer ends of the rollers of the outer courses, vand a singlecage for said rollers disposed in close proximity to said flanges.

24. In a roller bearing assembly, the combination of inner and outer race-rings, a plurality of courses of rollers disposed between and coopy erating with said race-rings, the rollers of adjacent courses having abutting engagement, said rollers having a plane surface cooperating with a complementary surface on one of said racerings and spaced arcuate surfaces cooperating with complementary surfaces on the other of said race-rings, and guide anges on one of said race-rings adapted to abut the ends of the rollers of the outer courses.

25. In a roller bearing assembly, the combina,- tion of inner and outer race-rings, a plurality of courses of rollers disposed between and cooperating with said race-rings, the rollers of adjacent courses having abutting engagement, said rollers having a plane surface cooperating with a complementary surface on the inner of said race-rings and spaced arcuate surfaces cooperating with complementary surfaces on the outer of said race-rings, and guide flanges on the inner of said race-rings adapted to abut the ends of the rollers of the outer courses.

26. In a wheel and axle assembly, alrotatable axle having a journal end, a journal box into which said journal end extends, a roller bearing assembly comprising inner and outer race-rings and rollers fixed to a sleeve, said sleeve being mounted Ifor sliding movement on said journal end, means holding said roller'bearingassembly against axial displacement with respect to said journal box, means on said axle cooperating with said sleeve to permit limited axial displacement of said axle with respect to said rollerl bearing assembly, and means cooperating with said sleeve normally limiting the same to sliding movement with said axle and being shearable upon failure of said assembly whereby said sleeve serves as a friction bearing to permit rotation and sliding movement of said axle in respect thereto.

27. In a wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable wheeled axle, a journal box, said axle having a bearing portion extending into said journal box, a roller bearing assembly mounted on said axle bearing, means operable after substantially 360 displacement between said axle` and roller bearing in either of two directions for causing said roller bearing to operate upon rotation of lsaid axle, means preventing axial displacement of said roller bearing assembly with respect to said journal box and means permitting limited lateral movement between said axle and said roller bearing assembly, said last-named means including cooperating thrust shoulders between the axle and the inner end of said bearing assembly.

28. In a wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable wheeled axle, a journal box, said axle having a bearing portion extending into said journal box, an anti-friction bearing sleeve freely slidable upon said axle bearing from the outer end thereof, a roller bearing assembly tightly tting on said sleeve, means holding said assembly in said journal box against lateral displacement, means for taking up axial thrust between said axle and said sleeve in at least one direction, and means permitting substantially 360 displacement between said sleeve and axle and normally'caming said sleeve to rotate with said axle, said means being shearable to permit relative rotation upon failure of said roller bearing assembly.

29. In a, wheel and axle assembly, a rotatable wheeled axle, a journal box, said axle having a bearing portion extending into said journal box, an anti-friction bearing sleeve mounted on said axle bearing, a roller bearing assembly tightly mounted on said bearing sleeve, and means permitting substantially 360 displacement between said sleeve and axle and causing said sleeve to rotate with said axle, means holding said roller bearing assembly against lateral displacement with respect to said journal box and means permitting limited lateral displacement between said axle and said sleeve in either direction.

ALFRED H. OEIKERS. FRED E. BACI-MAN. 

